Life with the Nelsons

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Visitors, Visitors, Visitors

Fisher had a lot of visitors while we were in the hospital! We are so thankful to be surrounded by such wonderful friends and family that joyfully celebrate our new arrival with us. We are so blessed!!

Waiting to find out if it's a boy or a girl!

Yaya and Pops

Mark and Lynda

Karly

Aunt Jodie, Uncle Jacob, and Aunt Jamie

Auntie Loo

Dan and Nathan

Emily, Monica, and Anna

Emily

Whitney, Amanda, and Kinsey

Hunter

Memaw and Pepaw

Kristi

We had lots more visitors that I didn't get a chance to take a picture of. We love you all!!

Fisher's Birthday

If you've read my earlier posts, you know that I had been in labor for a few days, and had even made a trip to the hospital. Monday morning we had a followup appointment at the OB, and I was still at 6 cm and contracting irregularly. I got the go ahead to go back to work, and prepared myself for what might be a few more weeks of no change. Tuesday I ran some errands and went to the dentist. I started feeling my contractions a little more, but it was still nothing painful. We had Mexican for dinner and I did a few squats in the shower, hoping it might speed things along. :) Wednesday morning I woke up around 4am, feeling my contractions more strongly. I attempted to go back to sleep, but wasn't very successful.

Around 530, I decided to take a bath and time my contractions. They were around 5 minutes apart, and I knew we would probably be having a baby that day. I met Hubs at the door when he got home from work at 6am, and we timed my contractions again. They were now 2-5 minutes apart. We called my mom to let her know that we would be going to the hospital, and we got our stuff ready to go. The car ride to the hospital was not the most pleasant! Hurting and not being able to move around=not much fun!

We got to the hospital around 8am and got checked in. It took them about 15 or 20 minutes to get us a room-they were packed! Having contractions in the waiting room is not much fun either! We got settled in and the nurse checked me around 845-I was 7.5 cm and 90% effaced. Officially having a baby today! She got my IV started and my antibiotics started infusing. We then got moved to a delivery room.

Around 10am, I got my epidural, which was not terrible at all, and I was feeling pretty good. I felt fluid leaking, so I said I'm either peeing on myself or my water just broke. It was my water breaking! I was now 8 cm dilated. At 11am, I was 9 cm, and knew that delivery was getting closer! By 1245, I was 10 cm and 100% effaced-time to have a baby! My second dose of antibiotics was in, so we were good to go.

I started pushing around 1pm, and ended up delivering at 1409 (209 pm). We were all surprised that it took that long to push, but it turned out that the baby's head was not exactly straight in the birth canal, so a lot of my pushing was ineffective. They also started Pitocin while I was pushing because my contractions were irregular. Pushing is hard work, but so worth it! Fisher was born at 1409, and he had a nuchal cord (cord wrapped around his neck). He was ok, though!

Dr. Pilgrim (my OB) held up the baby and asked Hubs what it was. It was a BOY!! I had thought girl all along, so I was very surprised! But, I couldn't be happier, and of course was crying like a baby. :)

We had a wonderful labor and birthing experience and I treasure every memory from that day. Here are some pictures of Fisher's birthday! :)

Ready to go!

Family visiting

sounds like a good plan to me!

last picture as a family of 2

he's here!

meeting my baby for the first time

Daddy and Fisher

Dr. Pilgrim and Fisher

looking him over

now a family of three!

It's a...

BOY!!!

Fisher David Nelson arrived on Wednesday, June 15, 2011, at 1409. He weighed 6 lbs and 1 oz, and was 19.25 inches long. He has a head full of dark hair and we could not be any more in love with him!!

37 weeks

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 37 Weeks

Size of baby: Baby Nelson is the size of a watermelon

Total Weight Gain/Loss: I have no idea-I don't weigh myself and I don't look when I go to the doctor-ha!! I think it's around 40ish pounds, though.

Maternity Clothes: I wear all maternity pants, but am still able to mix in some (ok, very few) regular shirts and dresses.

Gender: We won't know until the baby gets here! I feel like it's a girl, Hubs thinks boy. I guess we'll see soon enough!

Movement: Baby loves to move, especially at night when I'm at work. Are we going to have a baby on a night schedule like Mom and Dad??

Sleep: Ever since I got my Snoogle body pillow, sleeping has been great!! Not having to get up as much during the night, which is nice.

What I miss: Getting a full night's sleep without having to get up to go to the bathroom, being able to easily bend over! I'm also getting more uncomfortable in general, but nothing worth complaining about.

Cravings: I just love to eat! :) It's been a lot of sausage Rotel this week. And I really want Jerry's SnoCones all of the time, but it's just not convenient. Insert sad face here.

Symptoms: Heartburn-it's getting worse! Hoping this means lots of hair!! :) I'm also out of breath much more easily.

Best Moment this week: Knowing that we will be meeting this baby very soon!!!

Sunday, June 12, 2011

And the Excitement Continues...

So, after our unexpected news on Friday, we went into get-ready mode! Bags are packed, camera is charged, etc. I went to work on Saturday for an overtime shift, and kept having tightening across the top of my belly and pelvic pressure. Nothing that was painful or even uncomfortable, just noticable. I had a resident check me, and she said I was 5-6 cm and still 80%! Talk about progression...

I went home around 2, vaccummed, dusted, and got the pack and play set up in our room. Around 5 PM we decided to go to the hospital just to get checked out. Why? I'm only 36 weeks, which is still a little early, and I'm GBS positive, so I need to have antibiotics before I deliver. My one fear is not knowing I'm in labor until it's too late to get anywhere!!

We made it to the hospital and got checked in. I was still 6 cm, but the nurse couldn't feel my bag of water. Either it had ruptured (highly unlikely that I wouldn't notice), there was a lot of pressure pulling it tightly, or my amniotic fluid index was low. So, I got a fluid bolus and an ultrasound to check my fluid level. Unexpected perk-getting to see the baby again!! Everything looked great!

They had originally said they would keep me overnight to monitor me and potentially give me Pitocin in the morning to augment my labor. After the ultrasound and fluids, I was still at 6 cm. The OB decided to go ahead and send me home with strict instructions to rest (so no work for me tonight), and come to the office on Monday.

So, that's where we are. Bags are still packed and ready to go, but we're in a holding pattern. I slept great last night, and have not been feeling many contractions today. While we would LOVE to go to the doctor tomorrow and be told to go to the hospital, we recognize that we could be waiting for a while. Pray for patience (especially for Hubs!:)), comfort, wisdom on the doctor's part, and wisdom for us to know when we need to go to the hospital.

And now I'll leave you with some pictures from our "trial run" last night! :)

Friday, June 10, 2011

Holy Cow!

Just a quick update-Went to the OB today for my 36 week checkup. And....I'm already dilated 4 cm and 80% effaced! I was hoping for some progress, but that news shocked me!! Pray that I will know when I'm in labor!! Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got a lot of stuff to do!! Eeekkk!!! :)

36 weeks